Buddha’s hand, or fingered citron, is a citrus fruit. It looks very similar to a lemon at the top with elongated finger-shaped fruits growing from its base to form a hand… Hence, the name.
The surprising thing about Buddha’s hand is that it doesn’t contain much juice or flesh that can be used in cooking. Instead, it’s the rind that is packed full of citrus notes which can then be used in cooking, baking, dressing, marinades and even drinks!
Why Buddha’s Hand?
It was traditionally used as an offering at Buddhist temples and represents happiness and fortune. It is still given as a gift in China and Japan.
What Does Buddha’s Hand Taste Like?
The flesh is almost inedible because the pith is incredibly bitter. This is why it is rare that anything but the peel is used. The peel itself also isn’t eaten but is used in large pieces to infuse fragrance and aroma into dishes.
The smell will be lemony and floral. In fact, it can be quite hard to tell the difference between the smell of lemon and the smell of Buddha’s hand. The main thing to remember is that a little goes a long way as Buddha’s hand is far more fragrant.
How to Use Buddha’s Hand
You may only be able to use the peel of Buddha’s hand in your cooking or baking, but that doesn’t mean the options you have are limited. Here are just a few ways you can easily use Buddha’s hand:
Candied Peel
To make candied Buddha’s hand, you’ll need to snap some fingers from the fruit and then carefully cut as much of the peel from the pith. It’s vital that you don’t include any pith as this will have an unpalatable bitter flavour.
Once you’ve prepared your Buddha’s hand, simmer in a large pot of water for around 30 minutes until softened. Drain and then return to a pot. For every 1 cup of Buddha’s hand, you’ll need to add in 1 cup of white sugar and 1 cup of water. Bring the mixture up to 110c then cool, drain and dry.
Need More Info?
Check out this recipe on All Recipes for further information on timing and temperatures.
Drinks and Cordials
Whether it’s alcoholic or not, any citrus fruit works well in a range of drinks. The same can be said for Buddha’s hand. It can be used to make a simple syrup infused with a citrus hit. It can be used to make a unique Limoncello-like drink. And it can be used to simply garnish a G&T.
Salad Vinaigrette
A common vinaigrette is made up of olive oil and lemon juice, usually in a ratio of 2:1. You can add another dimension to a dressing by incorporating some Buddha’s hand. Of course, you can’t use the juice as it has very little. But there is a way it can be used in a vinaigrette.
Simply half the quantity of lemon juice you’re going to use and replace it with 1 teaspoon of Buddha’s hand zest for every tablespoon of lemon juice you remove.
Marmalade
Citrus fruits are essential in marmalade. It’s what gives marmalade its tangy, sourness. If you have a recipe for thick-cut, chunky marmalade then try swapping out some of the orange or lemon peel for Buddha’s hand peel instead.
Baked Goods
Lemon and orange zest are used time and time again in baked goods from cookies and biscuits to cakes and muffins. Well, instead of using generic lemon zest, you can swap equal quantities out for Buddha’s hand zest, instead.
How to Store Buddha’s Hand
You can either store Buddha’s hand in your fruit bowl at room temperature or you can keep it in the fridge. If stored at room temperature, it will only keep for around a week. If stored in the fridge, it will keep for around a month.
However, when stored in the fridge, it will lose some of its citrusy flavours so if you know you’ll use it up within a week, keep it out.
Yes, you can freeze Buddha’s hand. There’s no point freezing the whole fruit as it’s mostly unusable and will take up a lot of space. Instead, carefully cut the peel from the fruit and store it in freezer bags. The good news is that you won’t even need to defrost it before use.
Substitutes for Buddha’s Hand
Buddha’s hand may look alien but it’s flavour is fairly easy to replicate with far more accessible citrus fruits that you can pick up in the supermarket:
- Lemon Zest – Lemon zest can be swapped in equal quantities where you need Buddha’s hand. Lemon zest is a flavour you’re familiar with and one of the easiest citrus fruits to come across.
- Grapefruit Zest – If you want to add a more sour, bitter flavour to your cooking in place of Buddha’s hand then grapefruit zest works better.
- Lemon Juice – If you’re using Buddha’s hand in dressing, marinades or drinks then lemon juice can be used instead too.
Where to Buy Buddha’s Hand
Unfortunately, it’s highly unlikely that you’ll come across Buddha’s hand in your local supermarket. It’s a very unique ingredient that you’ll have to actively hunt for.
The best place to go to find Buddha’s hand is an Asian supermarket. Some more foodie stores, such as Whole Foods, may stock it on rare occasions but it’s not worth relying on them having it as it’s not a guarantee.
Buddha’s Hand FAQs
If you’ve got other specific questions about Buddha’s hand and how to use it, then these might help:
Like most citrus plants, Buddha’s hand needs warm temperatures to ripen and must be grown in both a sheltered and sunny spot. You can learn more about growing Buddha’s hand here as it’s not easy.
Buddha’s hand is native to Northeast India and China. It grows on a large shrub or tree which can grow to around 5 metres in height.
Both will provide the same flavour. An open-handed Buddha’s hand is easier to use as there are gaps between each finger making it easier to remove one at a time.
Got more questions about Buddha’s hand? Then ask away in the comments section at the bottom of this page and we’ll help out as much as possible!
Lewis is the founder and editor of Let’s Foodie alongside other food-related platforms including FreezeIt and SubstituteIt. He launched Let’s Foodie to provide aspiring cooks with one place to get the answers to some of the most commonly asked cooking questions.
